Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-05-28
at would be- interrupting her.

90 so, ana nOtnlf snail MAKE ho Ut
it, firmly.
Very well, them" said the young
man, taking his arm from round bel
waist; "we will part, as you don't
care enough for me to marry me. III
set about looking for somebody else
/ who does and will. /"
With that George HARDWOOD strobe
away, she watching his retreating fig
ure with dull pain at her heart, only
half comprehending that he had left
| her forever-yas no more her affianc-
husband; gone from her never to re-
| turn.
The knowledge, when she fully
came to see it, was so fraught with
anguish, that she threw herself down
on the sands, convulsive throbs shak-
ing her frame, cryiuti out
George George! come back to
mel Come back to me!'
But the words fell all UNDECIDED on
the evening breeze, he heard them
not, nor answered.
Ere long her wild grief had spent
itself, and she rose up with prayer
on her lips thai she might be enabled
to do her duty bravely, and not let
her hearts agony hinder her from
performing her daily task ,che erfully,
readily, remembering that He who
had laid this trial upon her would
also help her bear it.
All through the sweet spring time
apd the glorious summer Mrs. Ship
ton lay on her bed of pain. The
doctors were right in saying that in
all probability six months would
elapse before she would regain the
use of her stricken side, if she did at
all. The greater part Of Annals time
was taken up with her mother, who
was very fretful and impatient, con
tlnually grumbhng at her hard lot.
The winter SHOWS were on the
ground before Mrs. Shipton was able
to leave her bed. and then She had
not quite recovered the use Of her
limbs.
Wher the sweet spring flowers
once more opened their eyes again,
after their long winter sleep, Mrs.
Shitton had left her bed And
though she would never he the wo-
man she once had been, she was vet
infinitely oHankful at once more be-
ing able TO totter about her little
cottage aud employ herself as of
yorr. The words she had SO often
said Of George Harwood had come
true. He had taken up" with Fan
ME Spring. So the marriage might
be looked forward to any day. Anna
knew this and bore it bravely-
bravely, outwardly; but alone, in
the solitude of her chamber, the an
guish Of her heart was unloosened
and in fearless agony kneeling by
her bed. she would entreat God to
help her to bear what was before
her. seeing the man she loved we'd
ded to another girl.
One night when Anna was return
ing from the little shop, whittier she
hai bnca to make a few frugal pur
chases for their little household, she
met her old lover, arm in arm with
his new love. A flush came into her
pale face, and her heart took quicker
pulsation as she passed them.
Fannie nodded gay Good night,
Anna !" but her companion never
spoke. and she did not look at him.
Henceforth he must be nothing To
her; he who was still So dear-so
dear.
Fannie Spring was frequently in
the habit OF running down to the
ShipCon cottage; but. to her credit,
she never once mentioned her lovers
name to the girl whom she had sup
planted. She was gay, volatile
young creature, wilful as gay, and
completely rule her aged father who
almost idolized her.
Anna always welcomed the moth
erless girl kindly. Perhaps she was
not so thoughtful of her fathers COM
fort as she might have been but
then she never had anybody to teach
her what was right and dutiful, there
fore every excuse was due to her.
There are some natures to whom
duty's dictates comes naturally, but
with Fannie Spring it was not so !;
self was the chiefest thing with her.
But her manner was so bright and
winning that it hid a good many of
her faults; and loves eyes are, as
we all know, proverbially blind.
This was the girl George HARDWOOD
now intended to marry.
"What use was it having nice
snug cottage down at Sutton, ifthere
wasn't wife in it 7" he had been
| heard to say: but that defect was